Phils' Jayson Werth talks about going into free agency

Less than 48 hours after the Phillies watched their season end prematurely in Game 6 of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants, the free agent dance between Ruben Amaro Jr. and Jayson Werth began.

The general manager and right fielder both held press conferences at Citizens Bank Park to talk about the future. In the wake of Saturday's season-ending defeat the hot topic on the mind of every Phillies fan is whether the team will bring Werth back in 2011.

(Video of Amaro here)

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"(Do) we have enough money to do it and would we like to bring him back? The answer to both questions is yes," Amaro said Monday. "However that will kind of depend on what the ask is and how that will affect us with other possible moves we would have to make to do that."

The Phillies have $143 million committed to 16 players for 2011. Amaro said last winter that the team could not go forward with a roster full of $15-million-per-year players.

Werth, who signed with super agent Scott Boras late in the summer, is expected to command a deal in the neighborhood of the seven-year, $120 million contract Matt Holliday got from St. Louis on the open market last offseason.

"I've had the best time in the last four years playing baseball with these guys in this city in front of these fans," Werth said Monday. "I've seen quite a transformation here. Going forward, Philly will obviously be one of the teams that will be in consideration.

"It's a business. This is definitely not the same game I played in my grandparents' backyard as a kid. I've known that for a long time. I signe din '97, sat at my kitchen table when I was 18-years-old and negotiated my signing bonus. I've known since back then this is a business.

"Since coming here, the club has done an unbelievable job, the owners have expanded payroll. They've taken the necessary steps to create a winning atmosphere. Hopefully they continue to do that... They have the most loyal fans in the game, they sell out every night. From the economics side of the club, I would think they're in good shape, and probably could sign whoever they want. Whether or not that's me, we'll have to wait and see."

Werth will file for free agency when the World Series ends. The Phillies have a five-day period after he files to negotiate exclusively with Werth.

After that five-day window, he hits the open market.

"I'm in no hurry," Werth said. "Every business decision I've made over the years, I've definitely thought a lot about. There's no reason to rush into it."